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Since opening in 1990 the Sulawesi Animal Rescue Centre centre has intercepted more than 2,000 animals

“I enjoyed feeding the orangutans and sun bears — it was always fun watching them approach their foods in different ways,” says Sonny Ramtale a volunteer with Kaya Responsible Travel from Britain. “The sun bears devoured pineapples and whole coconuts with their claws within minutes, whereas the orangutans were more elegant and tactile in their approach.”

Ramtale has been putting in long days at the Sulawesi Animal Rescue Centre in Indonesia. Sulawesi is the closest Indonesian island to the Philippines and has been exploited as a consolidation point for illegal shipments of wildlife and wildlife products from Java, Sumatra, and Borneo across to the Philippines and onward to China, Taiwan and Japan.

“Most of the animals at the centre have been confiscated from traders and smugglers, while a small portion are surrendered illegal pets,” explains Sarah Brown, marketing co-ordinator for Kaya Responsible Travel.

Orangutans, sun bears, gibbons, tarsiers, lorises and pangolins are some of the most endangered mammals smuggled out of the country; cockatoos, hornbills, birds of paradise as well as turtles and other reptiles are also shipped out. Since opening in 1990 the centre has intercepted more than 2,000 animals, working with 110 different species. The demands of these animals — everything from feeding to developing “enrichment programs” — keep the volunteers busy.

“In the morning we would search for grass, leaves and berries for the animals. This was called ‘browsing,’” explains Ramtale. “I also took part in creating ‘enrichments’ for the animals. This is a way of feeding the animals so they have to work a bit to access the food. For example, I drilled holes along a stick of bamboo then inserted birdseeds into the holes to make it a bit more challenging for them to eat.”

Ramtale’s work is important because it imitates the way these animals would search for food in their natural environment. The centre’s main objective is to get the animals and bird ready for release, but this takes time and dedication. The centre currently runs under a supporting foundation, but has plans to become self-sufficient. This can only be done through the help of volunteer donations, fundraising projects and grants.

“Without a sustainable rescue facility the local authorities would not able to confiscate live animals as there would be no options for their subsequent care,” explains Brown. “We currently have over 200 animals and birds at the centre and only a handful of local staff to care for them so volunteer help is essential to ensure that the animals are taken care of in a way that nurtures their eventual release.”

But it’s not all about hard work — the locals are proud of their stunning locale and encourage guests to explore. Sulawesi has 11 active volcanoes, which adventurous volunteers like to hike in their spare time. When they want to relax they head to Siau Island, an idyllic place teaming with lush jungle and famous for the glowing crater of the Karangetang volcano.

Volunteers can go for two to eight weeks, starting at $1,531 for two weeks, which includes accommodation, three vegetarian meals per day, airport transfers, training and support. For more information visit: http://goo.gl/NQkV40